Orwell Foundation trustee Mick Callanan, an experienced teacher, has developed a series of lesson plans following the five steps of our Submissions Pathway. These lessons are designed to invoke debate, discussion, reading and the formation of an entry in response to our 2023 theme: Who’s In Control?
INSPIRATION
Three lessons to get you inspired about this year’s theme!
1. Lesson One: Behind the Scenes
2. Lesson Two: George Orwell, The Original Eco-Warrior
3. Lesson Three: If I Ruled the World
RESEARCH
A lesson to help you begin your research!
4. Lesson 4: Research
FIND YOUR FORM
Explore and experiment with different forms of writing, to find the perfect form for your own writing!
5. Lesson 5: Find Your Form
A lesson to help you conquer the blank page and start writing!
6. Lesson 6: Start Writing
KEY QUESTION: CLASS DISCUSSION & DEBATE
We are asking all young people who enter their work into the Orwell Youth Prize this year to also submit a short answer to the following question:
If you were the leader of your country, what is the first change you would make?
We’d really like to encourage you to debate this question with your students with our 2023 theme in mind. We’re hoping students will think personally and tangibly about this question. Rather than stating the outcome we want the idea – and something small and local could be linked to a global problem. What would it take to make this change happen? And what’s standing in the way?